Mail-chute.



J. W. CUTLER.

MAIL GHUTE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1909.

Patented Apr. 25, 1911. I

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. W. CUTLER.

MAIL GHUTE.

APPLICATION rum) mm. 21, 1909.

990,233. I Patented 11, 11.25, 1911.

4 s annn'ra-anizm' 2.

Ill/111,111,, v11 IIIIIIIII'IIIIAw I 25o n n 30 J. W. CUTLER.

MAIL OHUTE.

APPLIOLTIOH IIL'BD JUNE 21, 1909.

990,233. I Patented Apr. 25, 1911 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

J9 I (M) 5a 2a 26 witnmeo UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH WARREN CUTLER, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIG-NOR TO THE CUTLER MAIL CHU'I'E COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MAIL-GHUTE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPII WVARREN CUT- LER, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail- Chutes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the reference-nunierals marked thereon.

The present invention relates to mailing receptacles in which a chute is employed for directing mail from the upper floors of a building into a box or receptacle located at a lower floor, and it has for an object to provide a structure which will permit ready access to the interior of the chute by anthorized persons, while at the same time having its operating parts so located that they will not interfere with the mail matter nor be liable to operation by persons maliciously inclined.

To these and other ends the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of the chute located be tween two floors of a building; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line a-a of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line ?)-b of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view on line cc of Fig. 3; Fig. 4: is a detail front view showing the cross-piece or lock-controlled member in open position, the upper and lower panels through which access to the chute is obtained being shown, respectively, in unlocked and locked positions; Fig. 5 is a central vertical section through the lower end of one floor section and the upper end of the next floor section; Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional View taken through the moldings of the movable parts or panels looking toward the rear and showing the locking devices for the chute, and Fig. 6 is a detail view of the upper portion of the upper section.

In this instance there has been illustrated only so much of the chute as extends between two floors, the portions on other floors being preferably substantially a duplicate Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 21, 1909.

Patented Apr. 25, 1911.

Serial No. 503,401.

ing or other vertical support, a molding member 3 being supported loosely on the foot piece and having the contracted end 1 of the chute section 1 depending therethrough and outward lugs 1" on the sides of the chute section serving to support the latter on the molding. The molding may have screw eyes 3 by which it is secured to a vertical wall.

The upper chute section 2 has preferably a tubular extension 29 to receive telescopicall y the floor connection 99 on a floor above, a molding member 30 being adjustably secured to the extension by a clamp 31 carried thereby. To unite the chute sections on one floor there is preferably employed a conpling-member 5 which in this instance is of rectangular formation, being rigidly secured to the upper end of the lower section 1 and receiving telescopically the lower end of the upper section 2. The front bar 5 of this coupling may have its inner wall 5 converging toward the rear wall and downwardly so that the mail matter will freely pass the same. At its ends the bar is provided with notches 5 to receive the side walls of the upper section and support said side walls against inward pressure. Screw eyes 6, accessible only from the interior of the chute, may be formed on the coupling member for securing the upper end of the lower chute section 1 to the vertical support.

In order to gain access to the chute the sections are preferably provided with movable parts in the form of panels or doors which in this instance are the front transparent walls 7, 7 of the chute section. Each panel extends substantially throughout the length of its section and is mounted to turn about a vertical axis thereon. The hinging of the panel of the lower section may be effected by providing a depending pintle or hearing member 8 on the lower end of the panel to cooperate with a hearing or hinge member 9 in the molding member 3, while the upper end of the panel 7 has a hinge or bearing member 10 which receives a depend ing pintle or bearing member 11 on the coupling member The depending pintle 11 is preferably longer than the pintle 8 and is so arranged that when the panel is open it may be moved upwardly in the direction of its turning axis in order to carry the pintle 8 out of cooperative relation with the bearing member 9 in the molding member 8. 'When the panel is closed it cooperates with stop 100 to prevent the upward movement.

To hinge the upper panel 7 the coupling member 5 may carry an upwardly projecting pintle 12 which is adapted to fit into a bearing or hinge member 13 on the lower end of the upper panel 7, while the upper end of the latter has an upwardly extending pintle 14 which operates in a bearing 15 preferably formed in one side of rectangular cast frame piece or attaching member 16. The latter is secured to the upper section 2 and lies on opposite sides of the chute and in front and rear of the latter, the portion in rear being provided with screw eyes 17 serving to secure the upper end of the upper section 2 to the wall of the building. A molding 101 may inclose the frame piece 16 and cooperate with a shoulder 102 on the panel 7 a to prevent the latter moving in the direction of its hinging axis to clear the pintle 12.

The vertical sides of the panels preferably rest against vertically extending seats 103 extending inwardly from opposite side walls of the chute sections and in this instance formed by folds in the sheet metal of which the sections are made, while the bar 5 serves as a seat for the proximate ends of the panels.

Arranged to bridge the joints between the proximate ends of the panels 7 and 7 and to coiiperate with said ends to hold them against movement is a lock-controlled member or cross-piece 18 movable relatively to the chute sections and to the hinged panels of the latter and preferably hinged at 19 to one side of the coupling-member so that when in closed position it lies in spaced relation to and parallel with the bar 5 It preferably carries a rotatable key controlled locking member 20 which may be thrown into and out of a recess 21 on the couplingmember.

The cross-piece or lock-controlled member 18 secures each of the long panels 7 and 7 only at one end and it is therefore desirable to provide an additional locking means for the panels. In this instance, each panel is secured at its other end by a longitudinally movable locking member or rod 25 which preferably is inclosed to prevent tampering therewith and to add to the neatness of the structure. This locking member may be carried by and incased in the frame surrounding the transparent portion of the panel and have its end that is located away from the cross-piece 18 provided with a. locking-portion 22. The locking-portion on the lower panel cooperates with a keeper recess 23 in the molding member 3, while on the upper panel it enters a keeper recess 24 in the frame piece 16.

To the end that the locking-members 25 shall be controlled only when the cross-piece 18 is moved to free the proximate ends of the panels the said locking-members are each provided with an operating portion 26 which preferably is in the form of a laterally extendingarm. The arms 26 of both panels lie beneath and are inclosed by the crosspiece when the latter is in a closed position, thus preventing their operation, except when the cross-piece is in open position.

It is preferred to employ some means for positively moving each rod to and from locking position and to this end cams 27 and 28 are employed to cooperate with a rod and effect its movement in opposite directions when said rod is rotated. In this instance the cam 27 is formed on one end of a panel and shifts the rod to unlock the said panel when the operating-portion is turned outwardly from the chute, while the cam 28 is arranged on a fixed part of the chute and preferably on the coupling member 5 so that when the operating-portion is moved inwardly and the panel is closed the lockingrod will be moved to locking position. It will be seen that by having the cam 28 on a fixed part of the chute instead of on the panel the operating-portion, if moved accidentally when the panel is open, will not cause the locking-member to move to locking position.

In order to prevent the removal of the locking member or rod 25 from its recess or socket it is provided with a stop or shoulder 250 near one end formed by reducing its diameter, with which is adapted to cooperate a stop 251 in the form of a leaf spring. secured at one end within the molding of the panel or part and with its free end bearing against the rod, as shown in Fig. 3 This spring stop may also offer sufficient friction to hold its locking rod in position, but as stated, its primary function is to prevent its withdrawal by engagement with the shoulder though permitting the introduction of the rod downwardly in the molding.

In assembling the chute, a base is first secured in position and then the lower section 1 is fitted thereto to telescope with the upper end of the connection 9. The coupling 5 is then secured to the vertical support and the upper section 2 is telescoped therewith and Y To open the chute for any purpose, the

lock-controlled member 18 is unlocked and moved outwardly on its hinge exposing the operating-portions or arms 26 of both panels 7 and 7 The arms may now be moved outwardly to engage cams 27 and shift the rods 25 longitudinally so that their ends 22 will free their keepers to permit the panels to be swung outwardly on their hinges.

A mail chute constructed in accordance with this invention is very neat in appearance, durable in use and inexpensive to manufacture. The hinges for the panels are located in positions where they are firmly supported and are inconspicuous, while at the same time they permit the panels to be easily removed from and fitted to the chute. The locking means is eifective throughout the whole length of the panels and is so located that it is inclosed against malicious interference while at the same time not interfering with the passage of mail matter through the chute. It may only be operated when the lock-controlled member or cross-piece is moved and the latter incloses the operating-portions in such a manner that a neat appearance is obtained.

I claim as my invention:

1. A mail chute comprising a panel movable to permit access to the interior of the chute, a movable cross piece cooperating with said panel, a locking device for holding the cross piece against movement, and a movable locking member carried by the panel and held against movement by the cross piece when the latter cooperates with the panel.

2. A mail chute comprising a panel movable to permit access to the interior of the chute, a cross piece cooperating with the panel and movable relatively thereto and to the chute, a locking device for the cross piece, and a movable locking member carried by the panel and having its operating portion beneath the cross piece.

3. A mail chute comprising a panel movable to permit access to the interior of the chute, a locking member carried by the panel to secure the latter against movement, and a lock controlled member movable relatively to the panel and to the chute and adapted to prevent the operation of the panel carried locking member.

t. A mail chute comprising a panel movable to permit access to the interior of the chute, a locking member carried by the panel to secure the latter against movement, a cross piece movable relatively to the panel and to the chute and cooperating with the panel and with the locking member to prevent the movement of both, and a locking device for the cross piece.

A mail chute comprising a panel mounted to turn about a vertical axis to permit access to the interior of the chute, of an inclosed vertically-movable locking-member for locking said panel against movement, and a lock-controlled member movable relatively to the panel and to the chute and adapted to prevent the operation of the locking-member.

(3. A mail chute comprising a panel mounted to turn about a vertical axis to permit access to the interior of the chute, an inclosed vertically-movable locking-member for locking said panel against movement having an operating-portion, and a lockeontrolled member movable relatively to the panel and to the chute and adapted to inclose the operating-portion of the panel locking-member.

7. A mail chute comprising a panel mounted to turn about a vertical axis to permit access to the interior of the chute, of an inclosed vertically-movable locking-member for locking said panel against movement, a cross-piece movable relatively to the chute and to the panel, cooperating with the latter and adapted to prevent the operation of the panel locking-member, and a lockingdevice for the cross-piece.

8. A mail chute comprising a panel mounted to turn about a vertical axis to permit access to the interior of the chute, an inclosed vertically-movable locking-member having an operating-portion and adapted to lock the panel against movement, a crosspiece movable relatively to the chute and to the panel, cooperating with the latter and adapted to inclose the operating-portion of the locking-member, and a locking-device for the cross-piece.

9. A mail chute comprising a panel mounted to turn to permit access to the interior of the chute, a locking-rod movable longitudinally on the panel in a line substantially parallel to the axis of turning of the panel and having one end adapted to effect the locking of the panel and an operating-portion at its other end, and a lock-controlled member movable relatively to the panel and to the chute and adapted to prevent the operation of the locking-member.

10. A mail chute comprising a panel mounted to turn to permit access to the interior of the chute, a longitudinally movable locking rod guided on the panel and having one and adapted to engage the chute to lock the panel against movement and an operating-portion at the other end, a cross-piece movable relatively to the chute and to the panel and cooperating with the latter and with the operating-portion, and a locking device for the cross-piece.

11. A mail chute comprising a panel mounted to turn about a vertical axis to permit access to the interior of the chute, a locking-rod guided longitudinally and vertically on the panel and having a portion to cooperate with the chute to hold the panel against movement, and a cross-piece movable relatively to the chute and to the panel and adapted to cooperate with the latter and with the end of the locking-rod opposite to the locking-portion of the latter to prevent movement thereof.

12. A mail chute comprising two sections, one superposed upon the other and each having a panel mounted to turn about a vertical axis to permit access to the interior of the chute, a pair of inclosed vertically movable locking-members, each adapted to lock one of the panels, and a cross-piece bridging the joint between the chute sections and cooperating with both panels and with both locking-members to hold said parts against movement.

13. A mail chute embodying a part movable to permit access to the interior of the chute, a vertically extending and longitudinally movable locking member, a guide therefor and cooperating stops on the member and part, one of which is spring operated to prevent the withdrawal of the member from its guide.

1 1. A mail chute comprising a panel mounted to turn to permit access to the interior of the chute, a longitudinlly movable and rotatable locking-rod guided on and inclosed by the panel, and means cooperating with said rod for moving the latter longitudinally stationary relatively to the movable panel when it is rotated.

15. A mail chute comprising a panel mounted to turn to permit access to the interior of the chute, a locking-rod mounted to rotate and to move longitudinally on the panel and having an operating-portion, means for effecting the longitudinal movement of the rod when it is rotated, and a lock-controlled member movable relatively to the panel and to the chute and adapted to inclose the operating-portion of the rod.

16. A mail chute comprising a panel mounted to swing to permit access to the interior of the chute, a locking member having a rotary and a longitudinal movement, means cooperating with the locking-member to effect the longitudinal movement thereof when it is rotated, and a lock-controlled member movable relatively to the chute and to the panel and cooperating with the locking-member to prevent the rotary movement of the latter.

17. A mail chute comprising a panel mounted to turn to permit access to the interior of the chute, a locking rod mounted to rotate and to move longitudinally on the panel, one end of said rod effecting the looking of the panel While the other end is provided with a laterally extending operatingportion, a cam on the panel cooperating with the operating-portion to effect the movement of the rod in one direction, a cam on the fixed part of the chute cooperating with the operating-portion of the chute to eilect the movement of the rod in the other direction, and a lock-controlled member movable relatively to the chute and to the panel and adapted to prevent the movement of the opcrating-portion.

18. A mail chute comprising two sections, one superposed on the other and each having a panel mounted to turn to permit access to the interior of the chute, a locking-rod mounted to rotate and to move longitudinally on each panel and having a portion adapted to effect the locking of the panel and a portion through which the locking-rod is operated, the operating portions of the two rods being located in proximity to each other, and a cross piece movable relatively to the panels cooperating with the proximate portions of the latter and with the operatingportions of the locking-rods to prevent the movement.

19. A mail chute comprising two sections, one superposed on the other and each having a panel mounted to turn to permit access to the interior of the chute, a locking-rod mounted to rotate and to move longitudinally on each panel and having a portion adapted to effect the locking of the panel and a portion through which the locking-rod is operated, the operating-portions of the two rods being located in proximity to each other, a cross-piece movable relatively to the panels and cooperating with the proximate portions of the latter to inclose the operating-portions of the locking rods, cams on the panels cooperating with the operating-portions of the rods to move the latter longitudinally in one direction when the same are rotated, and cams on the fixed part of the chute cooperating with the operating-portions to move the locking-rods in the opposite directions.

20. A mail chute comprising a chute section having a hinged panel, a couplingmemb-er at the upper end of the section, and a base, the panel being hinged to the coupling member and to the base.

21. A mail chute comprising a chute section having a hinged panel, an attachingframe at the upper end of said section, and a coupling-member at the lower end of said section, the panel being hinged to the frame and to the coupling-member.

22. A mail chute comprising two sections, one superposed on the other and each having a hinged panel, a base supporting the lower section, a coupling-member connecting the sections, and an attaching-member at the upper end of the upper section, the panel of the lower section being hinged to the base and to the coupling-member and the panel of the upper section being hinged to the coupling-member and to the attachingmember.

23. A mail chute comprising a chute'section having a panel hinged to turn about a vertical axis, the hinge-members being proend, a movable member for covering said op-' Vided on a fixed part of the chute and on erating portion and also engaging the panel, the panel, and. being separable by a moveand a key lock for controlling said member. 10 ment of the panel in a direction of its turn- JOSEPH WARREN CUTLER.

ing axis when the panel is in open position Witnesses:

a locking devio'e for one end of the panel H. C. TUXBURY,

having an operating portion at the opposite WV. L. ESPERANCE, Jr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

